With the judge's ruling in hand, computer forensic experts hired by Northwest seized the home computer of rank-and-file flight attendants who operate a web site and electronic bulletin boards. They also copied the hard drives, including personal E-mail messages, from the computers of 21 individuals and of Teamsters Local 2000 which represents Northwest's 11,000 flight attendants.

The airline sued the union and individual flight attendants in January, after canceling 300 flights on New Year's Day due to low bookings. The bosses alleged the union violated Federal law by organizing a sick-out. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul agreed and issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Teamsters Local 2000, its leaders, and specific flight attendants from encouraging or participating in "sick-outs" or other alleged illegal job actions.

The judge also gave Northwest the right to seek evidence to prove its claim, including searching through the E-mails of 43 individuals. The company targeted flight attendants Kevin Griffin and Ted Reeve who operate web sites and electronic bulletin boards that have been critical of both the company and the union's contract proposals.

On February 6, Northwest Airlines and Teamsters officials reached an agreement that suspended legal action against the union and halted the discovering proceedings against 19 union officials. The temporary settlement did not apply to Griffin and Reeve, who were not invited to the settlement talks but later won a release from the temporary restraining order.

"Many of us would have gone to jail rather than agree to the release of information from our own computers. And now there is a threat over our heads to force us to accept the next contract," said a flight attendant in Los Angeles. Debbie, from Minneapolis, said she had spoken with a "lot of other flight attendants and we are not intimidated."

As other unionists at Northwest learned of the company's tactics, many have shown support for the Teamsters. The flight attendants' web site is filled with messages supporting Griffin and Reeve. One entitled, "Any plans for channeling public support?" comments that the public support for the flight attendants is a "huge asset" and "the public has a right to join in our fight since NWA has crossed the line into the rights of all Americans."

At the company's maintenance base in Atlanta, mechanics and cleaners are wearing buttons that say, "We Support NWA Flight Attendants," put out by the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association. In Los Angeles, IAM Local 2785 passed a motion to send a letter to NWA bosses "denouncing their lawsuit against the Teamsters and vigorously opposing the seizure of computer hard drives as a violation of free speech and constitutional rights."

Mark Friedman is a member of the International Association of Machinists and works at Northwest Airlines.  
 
 
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